2010 Chevrolet Malibu Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 367 brake complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, 27% of all complaints filed for the year, with median failure mileage of 80,000. A related recall (14V252000) covers brake wiring/BCM issues on affected Malibus.
- Brakes complaints
- 367
- 27% of 1,359
- Crashes reported
- 8
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 10
- Median mileage
- 80,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Owners report delayed or unresponsive braking where the pedal is pressed but the vehicle continues rolling and fails to stop in time, sometimes leading to collisions.
- Some describe sudden brake lockup combined with steering lockup while braking at moderate speed, especially in slippery conditions.
- Several complaints mention grinding noises and increased stopping distance despite repeated brake pad replacements at the dealer.
- Multiple owners report brake lights that fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed, or that illuminate erratically without braking, tied to a failed brake switch.
- A cluster of complaints links brake events to intermittent electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control warning lights that dealers could not diagnose or permanently fix.
When 2010 Chevrolet Malibu brake complaints were filed
First complaint May 5, 2010, latest Sep 9, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 14V252000May 14, 2014Brakes2,440,524 vehicles
Electronic stability control (esc)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Brakes complaints by Malibu model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have?
- NHTSA lists 367 brake-related complaints for the 2010 Malibu, which is 27% of the 1,359 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
- Yes, recall campaign 14V252000 covers brake-related wiring issues on certain 2004-2012 Malibu vehicles, addressed by GM attaching the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer and dielectric lubricant.
- At what mileage do 2010 Malibu brake problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2010 Malibu is 80,000 miles.
- Did the 2010 Malibu brake issues cause crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this brake complaint area shows 8 crashes and 10 injuries, with no fires reported.
- How does the 2010 Malibu compare to other years for brake complaints?
- The 2010 model year has the highest share of brake complaints among Malibu years listed, at 27%, compared to 21% in 2011 and 2012 and lower shares in most later years.